Abhishek Banerjee retained as TMC general secretary; Derek O'Brien, Dola Sen named deputies
Synopsis
Mamata Banerjee has kept Abhishek Banerjee at the top of the TMC — but not alone. By installing Derek O'Brien and Dola Sen as deputy general secretaries, she has structurally boxed in her nephew's decision-making power, signalling a deliberate recalibration of authority within the party ahead of a politically charged season in West Bengal.
Key Takeaways
Abhishek Banerjee retained as TMC general secretary on 5 June , but Derek O'Brien and Dola Sen appointed as deputy general secretaries.
Political observers say the dual deputy appointment limits Abhishek Banerjee's ability to make unilateral organisational decisions.
Former state president Subrata Bakshi relieved due to age-related ailments; replaced by Chandrima Bhattacharya .
Lok Sabha member Sayoni Ghosh named youth wing president; Mala Roy appointed women's wing president.
Former minister Moloy Ghatak heads the trade union wing; Priyanka Adhikary takes charge of the students' wing.
All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday, 5 June announced a sweeping organisational overhaul, retaining her nephew and Lok Sabha member Abhishek Banerjee as the party's general secretary while simultaneously appointing two deputy general secretaries — a structural change that political observers say will curtail his unilateral authority over party decisions.
Key Appointments at the National Level
Rajya Sabha members Derek O'Brien and Dola Sen have been elevated as deputy general secretaries, flanking Abhishek Banerjee in the party hierarchy. According to political observers, the dual appointment effectively means Abhishek will no longer be able to adopt organisational decisions unilaterally — a notable recalibration of internal power within the TMC's top leadership.
West Bengal State Unit Reconstituted
The state unit of the TMC in West Bengal has been thoroughly reconstituted. Veteran leader and former state president Subrata Bakshi, who had been seeking relief from the post due to age-related ailments, has been relieved of his duties. In his place, former West Bengal Minister of State for Finance (independent charge) Chandrima Bhattacharya has been appointed state president.
Four new vice-presidents have been named for the state unit: Lok Sabha member Sajda Ahmed, Rajya Sabha member Mamata Bala Thakur, party legislator Nay Bandopadhyay, and senior party leader Swait Khondkar. State general secretary positions have gone to Babar Ali, Pulak Roy, Ashima Patra, Aroop Biswas, and Rajib Banerjee — with Patra being a sitting TMC legislator.
The state executive committee now includes Jyotipriyo Mullick, Dr Rana Chatterjee, Bidesh Bose, Trinankur Bhattacharjee, Jaya Dutta, Tapas Chatterjee, Vasundhara Goswamy, and Goutam Deb.
Wing-Level Restructuring
Actress-turned-politician and Lok Sabha member Sayoni Ghosh has been appointed president of the TMC's youth wing, with former legislator Madhurima Thakur named its general secretary. Lok Sabha member Mala Roy takes charge as president of the women's wing.
Priyanka Adhikary has been appointed general secretary of the students' wing, while former West Bengal minister Moloy Ghatak has been named president of the party's trade union wing. Becharam Manna and Purnendu Bose have been given charge of the farmers' and agricultural workers' wings respectively.
Spokespeople Unchanged
Chandrima Bhattacharya, Kalyan Banerjee, Madan Mitra, and Kunal Ghosh — the last two being sitting party legislators — will continue in their roles as party spokespersons. This comprehensive restructuring signals that Mamata Banerjee is tightening her grip on the organisation ahead of what is expected to be a politically charged period in West Bengal.
Point of View
Structural dilution. The appointment of O'Brien and Sen, both Rajya Sabha veterans with independent standing, is not ceremonial; it is a check. This reshuffle also signals that Mamata is consolidating direct control over the state unit ahead of what promises to be a turbulent political cycle in West Bengal. The replacement of the ailing Bakshi with Bhattacharya — a loyalist with a technocratic profile — suggests the party is prioritising administrative competence at the state level. The real question is whether the new structure holds under electoral pressure, or whether the Abhishek-versus-establishment fault line resurfaces.
NationPress
22 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Abhishek Banerjee given two deputies in the TMC restructuring?
Mamata Banerjee appointed Rajya Sabha members Derek O'Brien and Dola Sen as deputy general secretaries alongside Abhishek Banerjee, who was retained as general secretary. According to political observers, this structural change means Abhishek will no longer be able to adopt organisational decisions unilaterally.
Who replaced Subrata Bakshi as TMC's West Bengal state president?
Former West Bengal Minister of State for Finance (independent charge) Chandrima Bhattacharya was appointed the new state president of the TMC in West Bengal. Subrata Bakshi was relieved after long seeking relief from the post due to age-related ailments.
Who leads the TMC's youth and women's wings after the reshuffle?
Actress-turned-politician and Lok Sabha member Sayoni Ghosh has been named president of the TMC youth wing, with Madhurima Thakur as its general secretary. Lok Sabha member Mala Roy has been appointed president of the women's wing.
Who are the new state general secretaries of TMC in West Bengal?
Babar Ali, Pulak Roy, Ashima Patra, Aroop Biswas, and Rajib Banerjee have been appointed state general secretaries of the TMC's West Bengal unit. Among them, Ashima Patra is a sitting TMC legislator.
What does the TMC reshuffle signal about Mamata Banerjee's political strategy?
The comprehensive restructuring, which touches every wing and tier of the party, indicates that Mamata Banerjee is tightening her grip on the TMC organisation. The appointment of two deputies alongside Abhishek Banerjee is widely read as a recalibration of internal power dynamics ahead of a politically significant period in West Bengal.
